Six things not to miss at North Liberty's Blues and BBQ

Todd Carr, owner of North Liberty-based T.C. Bonez Catering and BBQ, pulls a rack of chicken out of a cooker at North Liberty Blues and BBQ in Centennial Park.(Photo: Press-Citizen file photo)Buy Photo

It's been eleven years since North Liberty started its marquee summer festival, Blues and BBQ.

Centered around about a dozen barbecue purveyors serving up delicious grilled meats as a series of local and national blues acts perform, Blues and BBQ, which starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at Centennial Park, has grown drastically since its inception, just like the city that hosts it.

"In a lot of ways, we've mirrored the growth of North Liberty," said Nick Bergus, Blues and BBQ co-chair and the city of North Liberty's communications director. "North Liberty is a young, vibrant community and we're growing rapidly. Part of growing that community is engaging that community. Blues and BBQ really started that for the city years ago."

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Mark Wahrle, left, and his son Dawson Wahrle get ribs ready to be sold at North Liberty's Blues and BBQ.(Photo: Zach Berg / Press-Citizen)

While North Liberty has become one of the fastest growing towns in the state with its population going from 13,374 to 18,299 from 2010 to 2016, Blues and BBQ has grown into a fixture on not only the North Liberty calendar but for people throughout Johnson County and beyond.

"Now we're bringing in more food, more drinks, more events and we're bringing in internationally known headline performers," Bergus said.

Here are six things everyone should check out when visiting Blues and BBQ this Saturday.

Anderson East

Last year, Blues and BBQ brought the internationally touring blues band St. Paul and the Broken Bells for a free concert to end the night of blues music. This year, the festival has brought in another big blues name — 28-year-old Alabama soul and blues singer Anderson East.

East's name has been popping up more and more, thanks to him dating country star Miranda Lambert, but he's been building up his music career for the better part of the past 10 years. He's toured with Jason Isbell and Chris Stapleton, his song "What Would it Take" was featured in the soundtrack for the 2017 movie "Fifty Shades Darker" and he has released three full-length albums.

East will perform his banjo-tinged and horn-backed brand of soul and blues at 9 p.m. on the University of Iowa Community Credit Union Main Stage. Like all musicians at the festival, East's performance is free and open to the public.

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(Photo: David Scrivner / Iowa City Press-Citizen)

Barbecue (and other foods)

With a name like Blues and BBQ, you know the festival takes its barbecue seriously. Amos Dean, Cynful Smokers, Caribbean Kitchen, Flip N' Chop, Honeybadger BBQ, Mosley's and Rodney's Jamaican Jerk, Smoke N Grill on Wheels, TC Bonez Catering and BBQ, Wildwood, and Yolanda's will all be serving a large selection of barbecue meats and sides.

Kona Ice, Iowa City Noon Optimist Club, SugaPeach Chicken and Fish Fry and Hamburg Inn No. 2 will also be serving up food at the festival, so you can assuredly get more than just barbecue ribs.

The food vendors start serving at 11 a.m. Prices for food varies at each vendor.

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Wednesday marked the opening of Big Grove Brewery and Taproom Iowa City, a massive new venue for food, beer and more.
Wochit

Millstream will be serving their iconic root beer, so the kids can get a tasty, child-friendly brews too.

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Matilda Johnsen, 4, and brother Hayden, 7, make bubbles with a stick, looped string and bucket of soapy water Saturday at North Liberty Blues and BBQ in Centennial Park.(Photo: Iowa City Press-Citizen file photo)

Front Porch Playground and Everyday Arts Pavilion

Traditionally, Blues and BBQ opens its doors to the public at noon. This year, that's changing, as the festival will open its Front Porch Playground and Everyday Arts Pavilion at 10 a.m. so kids and families can have some time to have fun before the big crowds get to Centennial Park.

The Front Porch Playground features a litany of kid friendly events, Bergus said: giant inflatables, a petting zoo, balloon animals and more. The Everyday Arts Pavilion features a group of local nonprofits and groups like the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library Museum, Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature, the Iowa Youth Writing Program and others organizing hands-on arts and crafts for kids.

Everything at the Front Porch Playground and Everyday Arts Pavilion is free and open to the public.

5th annual Thanksgiving in July Turkey Trot

For those who want to burn some serious calories before digging into barbecue and beer, the Thanksgiving in July Turkey Trot will be held Saturday. Those who do run will be doing so for a good cause: the races are a fundraiser for the North Liberty Community Pantry.

Runners can register for the 10K, 5K or one-mile run. They can register online through the festivals website, northlibertyblues.org, until Thursday night. Bergus said runners can also register in person at Centennial Park before the races start. The races start at 9 a.m. Saturday at the park. Registration is $35.

More live music

Local blues mainstays will be performing throughout the festival, guaranteeing live music for almost the entire day. Davenport's Zach Harris Band begins at 1 p.m. Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Bruce Janey will perform with The Janey's at 3 p.m. The country roots and blues group Bernermann Brothers Band start at 5 p.m. The St. Louis reggae and blues band Aaron Kamm and the One Drops will play at 7 p.m.

All of the performances are free to the public.

Reach Zach Berg at 319-887-5412, zberg@press-citizen.com or follow him on Twitter at @ZacharyBerg.